rid yourself of

USAGE SUMMARY

'rid yourself of' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used when you want to express that you are making an effort to get rid of something or someone. For example: "In order to make progress, I need to rid myself of any notions of failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

HuffPost

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Rid yourself of repeating and rid yourself of style," he says.

The Guardian - Music

It's more calming and helps rid yourself of Manhattan".

The New York Times

Apply an oatmeal mask to rid yourself of inflammation.

The New York Times

When you rid yourself of a monster, you become a monster".

The Guardian

Unfortunately, it's not easy to rid yourself of a man so supremely talented at ducking confrontation.

The Guardian - Books

So what is the best way to rid yourself of an ageing car?

The Guardian - Money

Your son would collect the $8,000 tax credit, and you would rid yourself of the investment property.

The Washington Post

But giving in to pressure to rid yourself of a controversial client is never a good idea in our system.

The New Yorker

Why not spend the money in a more efficient manner and permanently rid yourself of the problem?

The New Yorker

You've weighed up the costs and benefits, and you've decided that you wish to rid yourself of this characteristic.

The Guardian - Opinion

DISCLOSURE The point of the process is to rid yourself of all destructive habits, so hiding things is self-defeating.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rid yourself of", ensure the context is appropriate for a slightly formal tone. In very casual conversation, "get rid of" might be more suitable.

Common error

Avoid using "rid yourself of" in very informal settings where simpler alternatives like "get rid of" are more appropriate. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rid yourself of" functions as a verb phrase used to express the action of removing or eliminating something unwanted. Ludwig's examples show it's used to describe both tangible and intangible things.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

HuffPost

10%

Less common in

Forbes

5%

The New York Times

5%

The Guardian

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rid yourself of" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to describe the act of eliminating something undesirable. According to Ludwig, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Wiki contexts, suggesting a versatile usage across different writing styles. While generally neutral in tone, it leans towards the formal side, making it suitable for professional communication but potentially less appropriate for very casual settings. When choosing to use "rid yourself of", consider the audience and context to ensure the tone aligns with the intended message. Alternatives like "get rid of" or "eliminate" may be more fitting depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get rid of

A more common and informal way to express eliminating something.

free yourself from

Focuses on the sense of liberation after removing something.

eliminate

A more formal term indicating complete removal.

remove

Suggests taking something away, often physically.

detach yourself from

Emphasizes emotional or psychological separation.

divest yourself of

A more formal and often legalistic term for giving something up.

disentangle yourself from

Highlights the effort required to separate from something complex.

expel

Suggests forceful removal.

clear out

Implies removing clutter or unwanted items.

shake off

Suggests a quick and decisive removal, often of something negative.

FAQs

How to use "rid yourself of" in a sentence?

You can use "rid yourself of" to describe eliminating something undesirable. For example, "To improve your health, you must rid yourself of bad habits."

What can I say instead of "rid yourself of"?

Alternatives include "get rid of", "eliminate", or "remove", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "rid yourself of" or "get rid of"?

Both phrases are correct, but "rid yourself of" is generally considered more formal than "get rid of".

What's the difference between "rid yourself of" and "free yourself from"?

"Rid yourself of" focuses on the act of elimination, while "free yourself from" emphasizes the resulting sense of liberation or release.